US8556997B2 - Fuel compositions and fuel thickeners, including monoglycerides - Google Patents
Fuel compositions and fuel thickeners, including monoglycerides Download PDFInfo
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- US8556997B2 US8556997B2 US13/205,026 US201113205026A US8556997B2 US 8556997 B2 US8556997 B2 US 8556997B2 US 201113205026 A US201113205026 A US 201113205026A US 8556997 B2 US8556997 B2 US 8556997B2
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- fuel
- charcoal
- agent
- monoglyceride
- fatty acid
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B01J13/00—Colloid chemistry, e.g. the production of colloidal materials or their solutions, not otherwise provided for; Making microcapsules or microballoons
- B01J13/0052—Preparation of gels
- B01J13/0065—Preparation of gels containing an organic phase
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
- C10L1/00—Liquid carbonaceous fuels
- C10L1/02—Liquid carbonaceous fuels essentially based on components consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen only
- C10L1/026—Liquid carbonaceous fuels essentially based on components consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen only for compression ignition
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
- C10L1/00—Liquid carbonaceous fuels
- C10L1/10—Liquid carbonaceous fuels containing additives
- C10L1/14—Organic compounds
- C10L1/18—Organic compounds containing oxygen
- C10L1/19—Esters ester radical containing compounds; ester ethers; carbonic acid esters
- C10L1/191—Esters ester radical containing compounds; ester ethers; carbonic acid esters of di- or polyhydroxyalcohols
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
- C10L11/00—Manufacture of firelighters
- C10L11/04—Manufacture of firelighters consisting of combustible material
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
- C10L1/00—Liquid carbonaceous fuels
- C10L1/10—Liquid carbonaceous fuels containing additives
- C10L1/14—Organic compounds
- C10L1/18—Organic compounds containing oxygen
- C10L1/1802—Organic compounds containing oxygen natural products, e.g. waxes, extracts, fatty oils
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
- C10L1/00—Liquid carbonaceous fuels
- C10L1/10—Liquid carbonaceous fuels containing additives
- C10L1/14—Organic compounds
- C10L1/18—Organic compounds containing oxygen
- C10L1/192—Macromolecular compounds
- C10L1/195—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
- C10L2200/00—Components of fuel compositions
- C10L2200/04—Organic compounds
- C10L2200/0461—Fractions defined by their origin
- C10L2200/0469—Renewables or materials of biological origin
- C10L2200/0476—Biodiesel, i.e. defined lower alkyl esters of fatty acids first generation biodiesel
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
- C10L2300/00—Mixture of two or more additives covered by the same group of C10L1/00 - C10L1/308
- C10L2300/20—Mixture of two components
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E50/00—Technologies for the production of fuel of non-fossil origin
- Y02E50/10—Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
Definitions
- Various aspects of the present invention generally relate to the field of rheologically modified fuels, including hydrocarbon, hydrophobic, and/or liquid fuels such as alkane-based odorless mineral spirits, paraffin oil and biofuels such as mono-alkyl esters of medium to long chain (C 8 -C 18 ) fatty acids, that have been thickened or gelled, e.g., by precipitation of fatty acid monoglycerides such as glyceryl monostearate and glyceryl monopalmitate.
- hydrocarbon, hydrophobic, and/or liquid fuels such as alkane-based odorless mineral spirits, paraffin oil and biofuels such as mono-alkyl esters of medium to long chain (C 8 -C 18 ) fatty acids, that have been thickened or gelled, e.g., by precipitation of fatty acid monoglycerides such as glyceryl monostearate and glyceryl monopalmitate.
- Mineral spirits are petroleum distillates derived from the light distillate fractions during the crude oil refining process, and are generally composed of six to eleven carbon (C 6 -C 11 )-containing alkane hydrocarbon compounds (though small amounts of other compounds may be present), with the majority of the mass composed of C 9 -C 11 alkanes.
- Mineral spirits are commonly used as a paint thinner and mild solvent. In industry, mineral spirits are used in conjunction with cutting oil, and for cleaning and degreasing machine tools and parts.
- Odorless Mineral Spirits are petroleum-derived mineral spirits that have been further refined to remove toxic aromatic compounds including benzene and toluene, and are often recommended for applications where humans have close contact with the solvent, including oil painting, ink printing and addition to barbecue charcoal as an easily ignited lighter fuel.
- OMS has an initial boiling point of about 340 F (171-178° C.) and a specific mass of about 0.76 g/cc.
- Paraffin oil is a petroleum hydrocarbon oil that is also known as mineral oil. It is available in both light and heavy grades. Paraffin oil is also known as white mineral oil or liquid paraffin, e.g., CAS Reg. No. 8012-95-1 and CAS Reg. No. 8042-47-5. The oil is routinely refined to clarity, having little color or odor. Paraffin oil is principally composed of n-alkane molecules containing fifteen to forty carbon atoms (C 15 -C 40 ). The oil has a number of uses including use as a lubricant or as a fuel for oil lamps and liquid candles (e.g., paraffin lamp oil from Lamplight, Inc., Menomonee Falls, Wis.).
- Biodiesel fuel can be used in standard diesel engines, and is thus distinct from vegetable and waste oils used to fuel converted diesel engines. Biodiesel can be used alone (termed “B100 fuel”), or blended with petroleum hydrocarbon fuels (e.g., B20 containing 20% biodiesel+80% petroleum diesel fuel). Blends of less than 20% biodiesel can be used in diesel equipment with no, or only minor, modification. Biodiesel can also be used as an alternative to petroleum-based heating oil.
- B100 fuel petroleum hydrocarbon fuels
- B20 containing 20% biodiesel+80% petroleum diesel fuel blended with petroleum hydrocarbon fuels
- Blends of less than 20% biodiesel can be used in diesel equipment with no, or only minor, modification. Biodiesel can also be used as an alternative to petroleum-based heating oil.
- Fatty acid esters contain alkyl chains of varying length, e.g., C 4 -C 18 that may be esterified to methyl, ethyl or propyl moieties.
- Fatty acid methyl esters have been assigned standard CAS registration numbers based upon the number/range of carbon atoms in their fatty acids as follows: C 6 -C 12 , CAS Reg. No. 67762-39-4; C 10 , CAS Reg. No. 110-42-9; C 12 , CAS Reg. No. 111-82-0; C 12 -C 18 , CAS Reg. No. 68937-84-8; and C 16 -C 18 , CAS Reg. No. 85586-21-6.
- Fatty acid methyl esters are aliphatic organic esters primarily prepared by the reaction of carboxylic fatty acids derived from natural fats and oils and methanol in the presence of a base catalyst. The resulting esters can be subsequently processed into various alkyl range cuts by fractional distillation. Fatty acid methyl esters are used extensively as intermediates in the manufacture of detergents, emulsifiers, wetting agents, stabilizers, textile treatments, and waxes, among other applications. Lesser volumes of fatty acid methyl esters are used in a variety of direct and indirect food additive applications, including the dehydration of grapes to produce raisins, synthetic flavoring agents, and in metal lubricants for metallic articles intended for food contact use. Fatty acid methyl esters are also used as intermediates in the manufacture of a variety of food ingredients.
- lighter fluids or starter fuels including odorless mineral spirits (OMS), gelled alcohol and waxes, for example, have been used for many years to initiate combustion of more difficult to ignite regular fuels including fireplace logs, barbecue charcoal, coal, and pellet fuels, for example.
- OMS odorless mineral spirits
- gelled alcohol and waxes for example, have been used for many years to initiate combustion of more difficult to ignite regular fuels including fireplace logs, barbecue charcoal, coal, and pellet fuels, for example.
- OMS charcoal lighter fluid has dominated the marketplace and has been sold for many years by a number of companies including the Kingsford Products Company (Oakland, Calif.), Royal Oak Enterprises, LLC (Roswell, Ga.), Reckitt and Coleman (Wayne, N.J.) and Duraflame Inc. (Stockton, Calif.).
- a quart of the fluid is sufficient to light approximately one 20 lb. bag of charcoal.
- Various aspects of the present invention provide, inter alia, advantageously modified hydrophobic fuels which are thickened by the addition of agents containing fatty acid monoglycerides, for example, fatty acid monoglycerides such as monoglycerides having C 14:0 , C 16:0 , and C 18:0 fatty acids.
- agents containing fatty acid monoglycerides for example, fatty acid monoglycerides such as monoglycerides having C 14:0 , C 16:0 , and C 18:0 fatty acids.
- modified fuel compositions are, for example, useful for lighting charcoal fires, such as in charcoal grills.
- One aspect of the invention provides a fuel composition which includes at least one hydrophobic liquid and an effective amount of at least one saturated fatty acid monoglyceride agent.
- the monoglyceride agent is precipitated in the hydrophobic liquid to cause thickening of the fuel composition.
- the monoglyceride agent has been heated and dissolved with at least a portion of the hydrophobic liquid before being cooled and precipitated in the composition;
- the liquid is a hydrocarbon- or fatty acid ester-based hydrophobic liquid, and/or the hydrophobic liquid is combustible;
- the monoglyceride agent contains predominantly saturated fatty acid monoglycerides;
- the monoglyceride agent contains predominantly saturated fatty acid monoglycerides and does not contain a significant level of fatty acid di- or tri-glycerides;
- the monoglyceride agent contains a combination of saturated fatty acid monoglycerides and disaturated fatty acid diglycerides;
- the monoglyceride agent contains a combination of saturated fatty acid monoglycerides and disaturated fatty acid triglycerides; and/or the monoglyceride agent contains a combination of saturated fatty acid monoglycerides, disaturated fatty acid diglycerides, and trisaturated fatty acid
- the composition includes 1-15%, 2-15%, 3-15%, 5-15%, 1-12%, 2-12%, 3-12%, 4-12%, 5-12%, 7-12%, 1-10%, 2-10%, 3-10%, 4-10%, 2-8%, 2-6%, 3-8%, 3-6%, 3-5%, 4-8%, or 4-6% by weight of the agent;
- the combustible hydrophobic liquid is or includes an aliphatic hydrocarbon liquid, for example, an alkane hydrocarbon liquid, odorless mineral spirits, or paraffin oils;
- the hydrophobic liquid is or includes an fatty acid alkyl ester hydrophobic liquid, for example, a fatty acid mono-alkyl ester liquid such as a liquid in which some, most, or substantially all of the fatty acid esters (e.g., at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90% of the fatty acid molecular moieties) are fatty acid mono-methyl esters,
- At least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90% by weight of the monoglyceride agent is glycerol monostearate or a mixture of glyceryl monostearate and glyceryl monopalmitate.
- the agent also contains at least one saturated fatty acid-containing diglyceride, e.g., glyceryl distearate, glyceryl dipalmitate, glyceryl palmitostearate and/or combinations thereof; the agent also contains a fat that is solid at room temperature, for instance, containing trisaturated triglycerides, e.g., tristearin, tripalmitin, palmitodistearin, stearodipalmitin, and/or combinations thereof; and/or the agent also contains at least one saturated fatty acid-containing diglyceride (e.g., as just listed above) and/or at least one trisaturated triglyceride (e.g., as just listed above).
- a saturated fatty acid-containing diglyceride e.g., glyceryl distearate, glyceryl dipalmitate, glyceryl palmitostearate and/or combinations thereof
- the agent also contains a fat that is solid at
- Another aspect of the invention provides a method of thickening a hydrophobic fuel, a combustible fuel, and/or a liquid fuel.
- the method involves, in some cases, cooling a solution containing a hydrophobic liquid with an effective amount of at least one saturated fatty acid monoglyceride agent dissolved therein, e.g., from above the precipitation temperature for that agent to below the precipitation temperature of that agent in the hydrophobic liquid, thereby forming a thickened or gelled fuel.
- the hydrophobic liquid may be a hydrophobic liquid fuel.
- the monoglyceride agent is dissolved in the hydrophobic liquid at a temperature above the precipitation temperature for the agent in the particular hydrophobic liquid; the monoglyceride agent is dissolved in the hydrophobic liquid under conditions of temperature, mixing, and physical form of the monoglyceride agent that the agent is fully dissolved in the liquid within 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, or 60 seconds, or with 2 minutes, 3 minutes, or 5 minutes of combining the agent and the liquid; the monoglyceride agent is added to the hydrophobic liquid in the form of a melt; the monoglyceride agent is added to the hydrophobic liquid as a solid (the use of small particles, e.g., flakes, small irregular chunks, or solidified droplets may be beneficial to reduce dissolution time, in some embodiments); immediately before the rapid cooling, the hydrophobic liquid with the monoglyceride agent dissolved therein is at a temperature at least 1° C., 2° C., 3° C., 4° C
- the hydrophobic liquid with the monoglyceride agent dissolved therein is at a temperature of at least 60° C., 61° C., 62° C., 63° C., 64° C., or 65° C.
- the hydrophobic liquid may be a hydrophobic liquid fuel in certain cases.
- the method includes rapidly mixing a first volume of an agent dissolved in a first hydrophobic liquid with a second volume of a second hydrophobic liquid, thereby forming a mixed hydrophobic liquid.
- the first and second liquids may be the same or different.
- the temperature of the mixed hydrophobic liquid may be below the precipitation temperature of the agent in the mixed hydrophobic liquid; in some cases, the first volume is less than the second volume, e.g., no more than 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, 0.07, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, or 0.40 times the second volume.
- the first hydrophobic liquid may be a hydrophobic liquid fuel
- the second hydrophobic liquid may be a hydrophobic liquid fuel.
- from 1 to 49 parts by weight of the first hydrophobic liquid containing an agent at a temperature above the precipitation temperature of the agent in the first hydrophobic liquid is rapidly mixed with from 51 to 99 parts by weight of the second hydrophobic liquid, thereby forming 100 parts by weight of the mixed hydrophobic liquid containing from 1 to 10 parts by weight of the agent at a temperature below the precipitation temperature of the agent in the mixed hydrophobic liquid; and/or from 2 to 25 parts by weight of the first hydrophobic liquid containing the agent at a temperature above the precipitation temperature of the agent in the first hydrophobic liquid is rapidly mixed with from 75 to 98 parts by weight of the second hydrophobic liquid, thereby forming 100 parts by weight of the mixed hydrophobic liquid containing from 2 to 5 parts by weight of the agent at a temperature below the precipitation temperature of the agent in the mixed hydrophobic liquid.
- the first hydrophobic liquid may be a hydrophobic liquid fuel
- the second hydrophobic liquid may be a hydrophobic liquid fuel.
- the agent is or includes glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl monopalmitate, or both; the agent contains monoglyceride (e.g., as just listed) and also contains at least one saturated fatty acid-containing diglyceride (e.g., glyceryl distearate, glyceryl dipalmitate, glyceryl palmitostearate and combinations thereof) and/or the agent also contains a fat that is solid at room temperature containing trisaturated triglycerides (e.g., tristearin, tripalmitin, palmitodistearin, stearodipalmitin, and combinations thereof); the fuel is a hydrocarbon-based liquid fuel, an alkyl ester-based liquid fuel or a combination thereof; the alkyl ester-based liquid fuel may be a fatty acid mono-alkyl ester-based liquid fuel and the agent also includes at least one trisaturated triglyceride component, e.g., containing
- Another aspect provides a method of lighting lump charcoal (e.g., shaped charcoal briquettes or irregular lump charcoal), where the method involves applying an effective amount of a thickened or unthickened fuel composition to a first layer of the lump charcoal, adding a second layer of the lump charcoal on top of the first layer, and igniting the fuel composition on the first layer.
- lump charcoal e.g., shaped charcoal briquettes or irregular lump charcoal
- the quantity of charcoal in the first and second layers together is at least 1 pound, 2 pounds, 3 pounds, 4 pounds, or 5 pounds of charcoal or 1-3 pounds or 2-4 pounds; the effective amount of fuel composition is 1 to 10 fluid ounces, 1 to 8 fluid ounces, 1 to 6 fluid ounces, 1 to 5 fluid ounces, 2 to 10 fluid ounces, 2 to 8 fluid ounces, 2 to 6 fluid ounces, 3 to 10 fluid ounces, 3 to 8 fluid ounces, or 4 to 10 fluid ounces.
- the charcoal rests on a non-combustible support such as a grate or support platform (which may be perforated or otherwise include air passage through the support, for example, in a barbecue grill, hibachi, or similar device);
- a non-combustible support such as a grate or support platform (which may be perforated or otherwise include air passage through the support, for example, in a barbecue grill, hibachi, or similar device);
- the weight amount of the fuel composition which is applied may be approximately 0.05 to 0.15, 0.05 to 0.10, or 0.10 to 0.15 times the weight of the charcoal in certain embodiments.
- compositions and methods described herein enable the thickening and/or gelling of fuel compositions comprising hydrophobic liquids, such as hydrophobic liquid fuels using cost-effective and/or environmentally sustainable agents for this purpose.
- thickened fuel compositions may be used to initiate the combustion of solid fuels that are more difficult to ignite, including but not limited to charcoal and irregular lump charcoal.
- the fuel composition may include a hydrophobic liquid.
- Hydrophobic liquids may comprise fuels, which include, but are not limited to, hydrocarbon fuels such as alkane-based odorless mineral spirits, paraffin oil or mineral oil, and ester-type biofuels such as mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids of animal or vegetable origin (also known as biodiesel fuels).
- hydrocarbon fuels such as alkane-based odorless mineral spirits, paraffin oil or mineral oil
- ester-type biofuels such as mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids of animal or vegetable origin (also known as biodiesel fuels).
- OMS
- OMS can be improved by thickening the OMS fluid to achieve one or more of the following:
- Typical current directions for use of an OMS lighter fluid call for a generous amount of the fluid to be applied to the charcoal (e.g., 1.6 oz fluid per 16 oz charcoal).
- Traditional lighter fluid is nearly instantly absorbed, and unless a large amount of the fluid is applied, either the charcoal is difficult to ignite or the fire burns too briefly to ignite the charcoal.
- OMS By substantially saturating the charcoal with OMS, the fire is more easily ignited and the fuel burns long enough to ignite the charcoal.
- the use of so much OMS (10% by weight of the charcoal) may be considered wasteful, and the charcoal typically continues to emit mineral spirits fuel odors even after grilling of food has commenced.
- much of the heat generated from combustion of the fluid rises away from the charcoal rather than rising into the charcoal to initiate its combustion.
- the present invention facilitates, in one set of embodiments, various techniques for overcoming these difficulties.
- OMS lighter fluid (as well as other suitable hydrophobic liquids, such as hydrophobic liquid fuels, for example, mineral oil) can beneficially be thickened, in accordance with one set of embodiments, by thermo-precipitating a remarkably small proportion (e.g., 2%, 3%, or 4% by weight) of an agent comprising one or more saturated fatty acid-based monoglyceride within the OMS lighter fluid (and/or other suitable liquid). That is, the monoglyceride can be dissolved in a portion (which may conveniently be a small portion) of OMS fluid (and/or other liquid).
- a remarkably small proportion e.g., 2%, 3%, or 4% by weight
- the OMS fluid (or other hydrophobic liquid) may be heated in some cases, e.g., to promote dissolution of the monoglyceride.
- the monoglyceride solution subsequently may be chilled, and in some embodiments rapidly chilled, e.g., by dilution of the mixture into the bulk of the fluid, e.g., at a temperature below the precipitation temperature (often approximately ambient temperature), which may cause thickening of the fluid (and/or other liquid), in some cases essentially instantly.
- the bulk of the fluid (and/or other liquid) may be set at a temperature sufficiently below the precipitation temperature of the agent in certain embodiments so that the temperature of the mixture is also below the precipitation temperature of the agent.
- the agent may also be dissolved in some cases in warmed OMS fluid or other hydrophobic liquid (or into a large fraction of bulk liquid), and the OMS fluid or other hydrophobic liquid may be rapidly cooled.
- the hydrophobic liquid may be a fuel.
- the hydrophobic liquid may also be a hydrocarbon-containing liquid in certain embodiments, for example, OMS, or paraffin oil or mineral oil, available commercially in both light and heavy grades.
- the fuel is combustible, i.e., the fuel is susceptible to combustion or reaction with oxygen in the air, and often will burn in an open flame when ignited and exposed to the air (i.e., the fuel may be flammable in some cases).
- a flame from a match under ambient conditions, e.g., at room temperature (25° C.) and normal atmospheric pressure (1 atm)
- a fuel may be ignited upon contact with a flame from a match (or other ignition source) under ambient conditions, e.g., at room temperature (25° C.) and normal atmospheric pressure (1 atm), a fuel may be ignited.
- a fuel may have a flash point or a fire point of less than about 90° C., less than about 80° C., less than about 70° C., less than about 60° C., less than about 50° C., or less than about 40° C.
- the flash point is the lowest temperature at which the material will ignite or combust when exposed to an external ignition source
- the fire point is the lowest temperature at which the material will, after being initially ignited by an external ignition source, continue to burn or combust for at least 5 seconds after exposure and removal of the external ignition source.
- the fuel is liquid and flows to conform to the outline of its container, although the fuel may be relatively viscous in some cases (i.e., having a viscosity that is greater than the viscosity of water).
- the fuel may also be viscoelastic and/or solid in some embodiments.
- the agent comprising monoglyceride may be dissolved in the hydrophobic liquid in a number of different ways.
- the agent may be added in solid form to the hydrophobic liquid, which may be warmed sufficiently for dissolution either before or after addition of the agent.
- the agent is melted and added to the hydrophobic liquid at a temperature below the precipitation temperature, and then the mixture is heated to dissolve the agent.
- the agent is melted and added to warmed hydrophobic liquid which is at a temperature above the precipitation temperature of the agent in the hydrophobic liquid.
- the result is that the agent is dissolved in hydrophobic liquid above the precipitation temperature.
- the agent may be precipitated in some embodiments by cooling, usually rapid cooling, for example by mixing the warmed liquid/agent mixture into a quantity of cooler hydrophobic liquid. This may be performed such that the combination has sufficient quantity and sufficiently cool temperatures so that the combination of the two results in a mixed liquid below the precipitation temperature of the agent.
- OMS is a low viscosity petroleum liquid that tends to dribble from the aperture of a container and contaminate the outside of the container and one's hands.
- the compositions disclosed herein at least in certain cases, has no tendency to dribble, e.g., due to their thickened state.
- most of the monoglyceride-gelled or semi-gelled fluid may be retained as a visible coating, e.g., on the surface of the charcoal (or other solid fuel).
- This visual cue may be particularly obvious in embodiments where the thickener makes the fluid white and opaque, and this visual cue may be used to give a user an immediate indication of where and how much of the composition has been applied.
- the applied fuel composition that is applied to the surface of charcoal briquettes (or other suitable solid fuel) may be more easily ignited for an extended time interval (e.g., in contrast to traditional OMS fluids that have a tendency to disappear from the surface as it is absorbed therein).
- one set of embodiments is generally directed to gelled compositions that melt at approximately 133° F.
- the composition may include monoglyceride-thickened mineral spirits.
- the composition comprising the monoglyceride gel may melt, and the liquefied fuel may ignite while being absorbed into the surface of the charcoal, e.g., where it can burn and/or ignite nearby charcoal.
- the former problem of rapid and/or deep absorption of a traditional liquid lighter fluid such as OMS fluid into charcoal can be avoided using certain embodiments of the invention, and/or a smaller quantity of the thickened fuel composition can be applied to the charcoal (and/or another suitable solid fuel), to allow for ignition of the surface.
- the fuel compositions consist essentially of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms that, upon complete combustion, produce water and carbon dioxide.
- the fuel compositions in some cases, are free of heavy metals and/or are free of chlorinated and other halogenated compounds that, upon burning, could produce dioxin and other toxic substances.
- the fuel compositions are expected to meet California and/or Federal Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emission standards for charcoal lighter material products in certain embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the fuel compositions are able to, in some embodiments, produce no more than 0.020 pounds VOC per start according to the California South Coast Air Quality District Rule 1174 Ignition Method Compliance Certification Protocol, dated Feb. 27, 1991, or an equivalent amount under a subsequent Ignition Method Compliance Certification Protocol or alternate protocol. In some cases, the fuel compositions produce no more than 0.01 pounds, or no more than 0.005 pounds VOC per start under the cited protocol.
- the amount of fuel composition required for lighting a fire may vary, e.g., between approximately 1 and 10 fluid ounces.
- the amount of fuel composition applied to a solid fuel such as charcoal or fireplace wood will vary between 2 fluid ounces and 6 fluid ounces, or between 3 fluid ounces and 5 fluid ounces.
- the quantity of fuel composition can vary between 2-16 fluid ounces, 4-10 fluid ounces, 4-12 fluid ounces, 6-12 fluid ounces, or 6-10 fluid ounces.
- the quantity of fuel composition is selected to provide at least 10 minutes, 15 minutes, or 20 minutes of burn time.
- hydrophobic liquids such as hydrophobic liquid fuels can be thickened to produce a fuel composition using a remarkably low level, e.g., 2%-4% by weight, of an agent such as described herein, using a simple process for introducing the agent into the liquid, for example, a liquid fuel.
- agents which are predominantly saturated monoglycerides have been found quite effective.
- Agents containing primarily C 16 and/or C 18 fatty acid monoglycerides can be advantageously used in some cases.
- C 16 and C 18 saturated fatty acid-containing distilled monoglycerides e.g., glyceryl monopalmitate and/or glyceryl monostearate
- mixed mono- and diglycerides e.g., prepared from hydrogenated palm oil.
- diglycerides as well as monoglycerides, the C 18:0 and/or C 16:0 saturated fatty acids may be used in some embodiments. Some of these are commercially available.
- the fatty acids may have higher melting points than glycerides prepared from fats whose fatty acid carbon chains are shorter (e.g., C 12:0 and C 14:0 ) and/or unsaturated (e.g., oleic acid, C 18:1 ).
- Some commercially-available preparations comprising diglycerides may contain glyceryl dipalmitate, glyceryl distearate and/or glyceryl palmitostearate.
- glyceryl dipalmitate glyceryl distearate
- glyceryl palmitostearate glyceryl palmitostearate
- mineral spirits and paraffin oil-based fuels a monoglyceride that contains low levels of diglycerides can be used in some embodiments alone as an effective thickening and gelling agent, often at a final concentration of approximately 3-5% by weight. In other embodiments, however, other materials may also be present.
- a fully hydrogenated palm oil-derived monoglyceride e.g., MyverolTM 18-04 from Kerry Ingredients and Flavors, Inc., Beloit, Wis.
- a fully hydrogenated palm oil-derived monoglyceride e.g., MyverolTM 18-04 from Kerry Ingredients and Flavors, Inc., Beloit, Wis.
- monoglycerides as essentially glyceryl monopalmitate and glyceryl monostearate, and having a melting point of 66° C.
- a 30%-50% by weight solution e.g., an approximately 10-fold concentrate relative to the final concentration in the fuel composition
- this 1:1 mixture has a very sharp melting point, and also dissolves and re-crystallizes within approximately a 1° C. temperature range at 62° C.
- 1 part by weight of the heat-solubilized 50% by weight MyverolTM 18-04 solution (at 65-75° C.) can be admixed and dispersed (using rapid and brief agitation to achieve rapid and even nearly instant cooling) into approximately 9 parts by weight of OMS fuel at room temperature.
- this immediate 10-fold dilution causes almost instant cooling and in situ precipitation of the monoglycerides as very small particulate material.
- a phase contrast microscope for visualization at 150-600 ⁇ magnification Applicant has observed that the rapid precipitation of monoglycerides in mineral spirits or paraffin oil at a final concentration of 3-5% by weight, for example, produces a heterogeneous immobilized array of very small amorphous particles and crystals estimated to average approximately 1-2 microns in diameter. While occasional larger optically refractive crystals, e.g., 10-50 microns, are also present, these are not predominant.
- the precipitated particles appear substantially interlocked with one another, and immobile when viewed at these magnifications, and are surprisingly effective in sequestering and thickening large amounts of hydrophobic fuel such as OMS, mineral oils, etc.
- the fuel compositions described herein can be produced in a number of different methods, including industrial scale methods, in various embodiments of the invention.
- a continuous-flow process suitable for commercial scale production of thickened lighter fluid may be used under some conditions to achieve essentially instant precipitation of an agent such as a monoglyceride agent in OMS and/or other liquids, liquid fuels or flammable liquids, etc., as is discussed herein.
- Certain implementations of the process employ two metered streams of liquid.
- one liquid stream may carry a ten-fold concentrated solution of heated monoglyceride (e.g., 30%-50% by weight MyverolTM 18-04 dissolved in 50%-70% by weight OMS at approximately 70° C.) delivered at a flow rate of n liters per minute (where n is any number).
- the second stream may carry OMS at ambient temperature (e.g., about 20° C.) at a 9-fold greater flow rate, i.e., 9n liters per minute.
- Other flow rates may also be used in other embodiments, e.g., at a 8-fold or 10-fold greater flow rate.
- other liquid fuels may be used as well in some cases, instead of or in addition to OMS.
- the two streams may be brought together in a mixing chamber of sufficient but not excessive volume, fitted with an agitator that provides mixing of the two streams.
- the temperature of mixing may be, for example, approximately 25° C. (e.g., based upon the respective temperatures and volumes of the input streams). This mixing may be used to ensure essentially instant precipitation of the monoglyceride in the form of small microparticles for thickening of the OMS (or other liquid fuel).
- mixing can be accomplished using one or more mixing eductors or mixing nozzles.
- Such mixing eductors or nozzles can be designed in various ways, some of which can be regarded as belonging to one of two general categories, internal mixing and external mixing.
- External mixing eductors or nozzles are typically used with a tank or similar container.
- a fluid stream may be fed through the device such that mixing with bulk material occurs after the fluid exits the device.
- two fluid streams are fed into the device.
- the larger, or primary, stream is typically fed under pressure, while usually the smaller or secondary stream may be pulled into the mixer, e.g., as a low pressure area is created within the device due to the flow of the primary stream, although the second stream may be pumped in some cases.
- the structure downstream of the fluid junction zone imparts fluid mixing before the combined fluid exits the device.
- the thickened OMS (or other liquid or liquid fuel as discussed herein) may be pumped or otherwise transported from the mixing chamber, for instance, to a holding tank or directly to a filling line where the product is packaged in consumer retail containers.
- the mixed fluid may be passed, for instance, through an intermediate mixing tank to ensure homogeneity, directed into a holding tank, or sent directly to a filling line.
- an appropriately sized container e.g., 1 quart capacity container
- a convenient container has sufficiently flexible walls and suitably configured and arranged dispensing hole(s) that allow the fuel composition to be dispensed by squeezing the walls of the container.
- the fuel composition may be dispensed onto charcoal, a wood surface, or any other fuel described herein, e.g., solid fuels.
- thickening agents for hydrocarbon liquids are described, for example, by Cohen, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,205. Soaps, waxes, various polymers, sterols and other agents such as fumed silica have been used as thickeners for hydrocarbon liquids.
- gasoline has been thickened and gelled by addition of benzene and polystyrene to form napalm B.
- many of the previously described agents have the disadvantages of being either more difficult to utilize, more costly, or employ ingredients that produce greater pollution when burned in air.
- the two free hydroxyl groups in each monoglyceride molecule would form inwardly oriented hydrogen bonding bridges linked to other hydroxyl groups on neighboring monoglyceride molecules.
- This inward hydroxyl bridge configuration would allow the hydrophobic alkane-like fatty acid tails of the monoglyceride to extend outward into the hydrophobic fuel, enabling these tails to trap and thereby thicken molecules of the fuel, e.g., alkane molecules.
- Applicant believes that when pure monoglycerides are heated, melted and then rapidly precipitated while being dispersed in cool OMS, the molecules are unable to flip their original molecular orientation (fatty acids facing inward) and are therefore unable to efficiently thicken a hydrophobic liquid such as OMS. It is also believed that a similar mechanism would be present with other agents discussed herein, e.g., with respect to diglycerides, fatty acids, etc.
- the OMS composition remained immobile and was only minimally absorbed into the surface of these briquettes.
- a second upper layer of 40 briquettes was added and arranged on top of the first layer. In one test, the upper layer of briquettes was oriented flat, and in the second test the briquettes were oriented more or less on edge (i.e., the briquettes' perimeter edge was vertically oriented). No OMS composition was added to this second upper layer of charcoal, so the upper layer remains uncoated. (Contact and transfer of some thickened fluid through contact between the upper and lower layers is not considered coating, and therefore the upper layer remains uncoated following such contact and transfer.)
- This “edge-up” second layer arrangement provided greater air space among the briquettes for increased air circulation during combustion.
- the OMS composition of this particular example can advantageously remain substantially non-absorbed on the surface of the charcoal or other solid fuel. This condition allows ample time for adding and arranging the above-described upper layer of charcoal on top of the first lower layer of charcoal coated with the OMS composition.
- Other features and advantages present in some embodiments of the invention are as follows: Upon lighting the fuel composition at any point on the bottom layer of charcoal, the fire spread through the entire bed of charcoal. Charcoal briquettes are rapidly and easily ignited using the above-described two layer geometry because heat is beneficially generated and sustained between the lower and upper layers of charcoal.
- the 10-13 minute interval between igniting the thickened OMS fuel and the charcoal being ready for grilling food is approximately one-half the normal time required for lighting charcoal by the conventional method (e.g., spraying unthickened OMS over a compact pre-formed mound of charcoal).
- Applicant also wished to determine whether the use of unmodified fluid OMS could be improved using a method of applying and burning the fuel similar to the new method described above. Accordingly, Applicant repeated the above-described method for igniting two layers of charcoal briquettes, in which the lower layer was soaked with unmodified OMS lighter fluid and the upper layer was not. To the best of Applicant's knowledge, selective application of lighter fluid to a lower layer of charcoal rather than to the upper outer layer runs contrary to commercial instructions. In fact, typical commercial instructions provided with OMS-type charcoal lighter fluids consistently teach the following (paraphrased from several commercial products):
- a thickened hydrophobic biofuel composition was produced using a monomethyl ester fatty acid liquid fuel (methyl decanoate, CAS Reg. No. 110-42-9, product designation CE-1095, P&G Chemicals, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio).
- This fuel composition was modified by adding and thermo-precipitating a mixture of saturated fatty acid monoglyceride (MyverolTM 18-04, described above) and a palm stearin triglyceride (Revel A stearin, Loders Croklaan Inc., Channahon, Ill.). These ingredients were initially heat-solubilized at approximately 70° C. in the CE-1095 liquid as a five-fold concentrate containing approximately 20% by weight MyverolTM 18-04 and approximately 12% Revel A.
- This heated concentrate was then diluted five-fold while being rapidly mixed with CE-1095 provided at ambient temperature to produce a final mixing temperature of 30° C.
- the rapid mixing and accompanying rapid drop in temperature may favor formation of small crystals.
- the final concentration of monoglyceride at approximately 4% by weight and the stearin concentration at approximately 2.4% by weight may be used to produce a thick liquid that can remain stationary as a coating, or can flow slowly under mild pressure.
- the resulting fuel composition may, for example, be readily applied and/or be allowed to remain immobilized on a solid fuel, e.g., charcoal or fireplace wood.
- any suitable concentration of monoglyceride or other e.g., diglycerides, fatty acids, etc. can be used.
- MyverolTM 18-04 monoglyceride concentrations added to fatty acid ester biofuels was between 2% and 8% by weight, while the stearin triglyceride range was between 1% and 4% by weight.
- the combined use (and possible co-crystallization) of monoglycerides with stearin triglycerides may be used in certain fuel compositions discussed herein, e.g., for monoalkyl ester fatty acid biofuels.
- the crystallization of monoglycerides alone may also be used for certain fuel compositions described herein, e.g., as described herein.
- fuel composition refers to a composition that is freely combustible in air once ignited by a flame source.
- the fuel may be liquid at room temperature and 1 atmosphere, and can be poured and/or pumped. After thickening, the fuel composition can at least partially liquefy during combustion.
- hydrophobic liquid refers to a substance that is liquid at room temperature and 1 atmosphere, and that is immiscible with water, i.e., at least a portion of the liquid phase-separates when exposed to water under these conditions.
- saturated fatty acid monoglyceride refers to a glycerol molecule in which the hydroxyl group on any one or more of the three carbon atoms has been replaced an ester-linked saturated fatty acid such as palmitic acid (C 16:0 ) or stearic acid (C 18:0 ).
- thermo-precipitated refers to an agent such as a monoglyceride in which the physical state of the agent is altered from soluble to insoluble via a decrease in the temperature of the fuel.
- a rapid temperature decrease can be used under certain conditions to induce rapid precipitation of the monoglyceride, which can be used to thicken a fuel.
- the monoglyceride may be easily heated (e.g., to 70° C.) and/or dissolved in a portion, e.g., at least a small portion, e.g., 10% by weight, of the hydrophobic liquid used in the fuel composition.
- the heated and dissolved monoglyceride may be rapidly blended, dispersed and/or cooled with the remaining bulk, e.g., 90% by weight, of the hydrophobic liquid retained at room temperature, which may result in thickening of the fuel composition.
- the monoglyceride or monoglyceride agent may precipitate in some embodiments over a temperature range rather than at one specific temperature. In some cases, rapid cooling may assist in precipitating multiple components in a monoglyceride agent together.
- saturated fatty acid monoglyceride saturated monoglyceride
- saturated monoglyceride saturated monoglyceride
- monoglyceride monoglyceride
- saturated diglycerides and “trisaturated triglycerides” refer to glycerol molecules in which, respectively, either two or three saturated fatty acid molecules are chemically ester-linked to either two or three of the glycerol's carbon atoms.
- An agent may include, for example, monoglycerides, diglycerides, and/or triglcerides, and/or other components as those discussed herein.
- saturated fatty acid monoglyceride agent and similar terms referring to agents used in various embodiments generally refers to a preparation or set of preparations which are combined in the hydrophobic fuel.
- the agent may contain, for example, saturated fatty acid monoglycerides, and/or di- and/or tri-glycerides.
- Other components may also be present in the agent.
- a variety of components may be present within the agent that do not excessively interfere with the thickening function of the agent.
- the various components may be combined, e.g., prior to adding and/or thermoprecipitating the agent in the hydrophobic liquid.
- thickened and “thickening” refer to a significant increase in viscosity.
- the viscosity may be increased such that the thickened liquid does not flow as a thin liquid at 20° C.
- the thickening may, for example, result in a fuel having a “syrupy” degree of viscosity or may be thicker, e.g., substantially or fully gelled at 20° C.
- gelled means the thickened material does not appreciably flow when a 2 cm cube is placed on a horizontal surface for 5 minutes at 20° C.
- portion is meant to describe amounts and relative amounts by weight of fuel. More specifically, the term “portion” includes any suitable percentage, including both “small portions” (as little as 1% of an entire amount) and large portions (as much as 100% of an amount).
- a “larger portion” is defined as being at least two-fold greater in weight than a “small portion” or a “smaller portion.” A “larger portion” may also be much greater than two-fold greater than the “smaller portion,” e.g., it may be ten-fold greater, 20-fold greater or even more.
- a smaller portion of one part by weight of a fuel composition containing 60% by weight of dissolved monoglycerides may be diluted by combining with a 19-fold larger portion of cool fuel to produce 20 parts by weight of a combined fuel mixture containing 3% by weight of precipitated monoglycerides that thicken the fuel composition.
- ambient temperature refers to the air temperature in the manufacturing facility that typically ranges from approximately 20° C. to 25° C.
- unheated and essentially unheated are used to describe liquid fuel that is being combined with a heated monoglyceride-containing fuel (the latter being typically heated to a temperature of greater than 60° C.).
- the terms refer to liquid fuel that is substantially cooler than the heated fuel. More specifically, these terms are meant to include a broad range of cooler temperatures ranging from refrigerated temperatures (that may be as low as 0° C.) to temperatures as high as 40° C.
- refrigerated temperatures that may be as low as 0° C.
- temperatures high as 40° C.
- unheated and essentially unheated temperatures are often at ambient temperatures, typically in the range of 20-25° C.
- the term “charcoal” refers to charcoal in relatively large chunks, e.g., either or both irregular or unshaped lump charcoal and shaped briquette-style charcoal. Unless unshaped lump charcoal is specifically excluded, use of the term “charcoal briquettes” may include both shaped briquettes and the unshaped lump charcoal. Similarly, unless shaped briquette charcoal is specifically excluded, use of the term “lump charcoal” includes both shaped briquettes and the unshaped lump charcoal.
- ash-covered refers to a bed of charcoal whose exposed surface is at least 50% covered with ash produced by the ignited surface.
- the phrase and terms contained herein for methods of lighting charcoal describe “applying the fuel composition to a first lower layer of charcoal resting on a non-combustible support grate in a barbecue grill.”
- This phrase refers to either a thickened or unthickened hydrocarbon or alkyl ester-based hydrophobic fuel that is sprayed or otherwise dispensed onto the exposed upward-facing surfaces of a layer of charcoal briquettes or lumps placed side-by-side on a typical metal grate that supports charcoal in a grill.
- This initial layer of charcoal constituting the so-called “first lower layer” is distinguished from the “second upper layer” of charcoal (in most cases an amount roughly similar to the first lower layer).
- the second upper layer is placed on top of the first lower layer, and does not necessarily require addition of any more lighter fuel.
- the charcoal “support grate” must allow ample air circulation around the charcoal to support combustion.
Abstract
Description
-
- (a) reducing contamination of the hands and the outside of the storage container by OMS liquid;
- (b) allowing more uniform application of OMS onto briquettes and irregular lumps of charcoal owing to the visibility of the thickened white coating;
- (c) reducing the absorption of OMS into the charcoal allowing easier ignition of surface fuel for a longer time interval following application, and earlier volatilization of undesirable OMS odors from ignited charcoal; and
- (d) more efficient ignition of briquettes allowing less fluid to be used per fire.
-
- Lighting instructions: Arrange charcoal briquettes in a pile or pyramid. Apply starter fluid over the pile of charcoal, use 1.6 fluid ounces (47 milliliters) per pound of charcoal. Light the charcoal immediately. The starter fluid will burn off cleanly in a few minutes leaving the charcoal fully ignited. When briquettes ash over, spread them out evenly and begin barbecuing.
Claims (9)
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US13/205,026 US8556997B2 (en) | 2011-08-08 | 2011-08-08 | Fuel compositions and fuel thickeners, including monoglycerides |
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Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3672854A (en) * | 1969-12-03 | 1972-06-27 | Universal Oil Prod Co | Middle distillate |
US4012205A (en) | 1966-01-05 | 1977-03-15 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Thickened hydrocarbon fuels |
US5858031A (en) | 1997-07-08 | 1999-01-12 | Brandeis University | Isopropanol blended with aqueous ethanol for flame coloration without use of salts or hazardous solvents |
US6755877B2 (en) | 2001-11-08 | 2004-06-29 | Brandeis University | Freestanding plastic container for controlled combustion of alcohol-based lighter fluid |
US20110107947A1 (en) | 2007-11-02 | 2011-05-12 | Fredrick Michael Joseph Vernon | Firelighter Fluid |
-
2011
- 2011-08-08 US US13/205,026 patent/US8556997B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4012205A (en) | 1966-01-05 | 1977-03-15 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Thickened hydrocarbon fuels |
US3672854A (en) * | 1969-12-03 | 1972-06-27 | Universal Oil Prod Co | Middle distillate |
US5858031A (en) | 1997-07-08 | 1999-01-12 | Brandeis University | Isopropanol blended with aqueous ethanol for flame coloration without use of salts or hazardous solvents |
US6755877B2 (en) | 2001-11-08 | 2004-06-29 | Brandeis University | Freestanding plastic container for controlled combustion of alcohol-based lighter fluid |
US20110107947A1 (en) | 2007-11-02 | 2011-05-12 | Fredrick Michael Joseph Vernon | Firelighter Fluid |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
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Aerosil Web Page, last accessed Aug. 8, 2011, at http://www.aerosil.com/product/aerosil/en/products/hydrophilic-fumed-silica/pages/default.aspx. |
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